This post brought to you by Piccalilli.
WARNING: By the end of this post, your mouth will be watering …
Even though I’ve never worked in Event Management as such, there has been an element of it in almost every position I’ve held.
And like most women, I’ve organised my fair share of events, starting with our wedding back in 1990. Each time, there was:
- a budget to set and adhere to;
- objectives to be determined;
- research to be done;
- planning of logistics;
- risk management;
- hiring of contractors;
- and much more besides.
I’ve tried my hand at everything from corporate and fundraising events such as high teas, conferences, fashion parades and book launches, to children’s birthday parties.
My last office job entailed quite a bit of event management – organising community meetings, boardroom lunches, award presentations, training days, and the like.
Why is Catering so Important to a Successful Event?
I speak from experience, when I say that one of the most important aspects of any event, is the food.
Just like in the ads for a certain chocolate bar, hungry tummies make people cranky – and that’s the last thing you want!
Great catering is also my secret weapon for dull-as-dishwater business meetings. Not only does it keep everybody friendly, but it helps to guarantee a good turnout.
And yet … I found there was a dearth of catering firms in Brisbane that were up to the task. Most only provide one type of food – for example, sandwiches, sushi, or a cheese platter. But what about when you want all three? There was even less to choose from if you wanted hot items, or gluten free, or …
If only there was a catering firm with a great range of gourmet goodness, to please even the most discerning palates.
If only I’d known about Piccalilli gourmet catering!
Whether it’s a breakfast, morning tea or canapes, here is just a random selection from the comprehensive – and well priced – menus. How good do these sound?
Savoury Goodies
Image from the Piccalilli website
- Herb savoury scones topped with butter, tasty cheese, fresh herbs
- Tomato, basil and bocconcini cocktail drizzled with balsamic vinegar GF
- Chicken tenderloin with honey mustard mayonnaise GF
- Vietnamese rice paper rolls with dipping sauce
- Green chicken curry with jasmine rice GF
Sweet Treats
Images from the Piccalilli website
- Chocolate nougat slice GF
- White chocolate, cranberry and pistachio slice GF
- Chocolate sour cream cake squares
- Macadamia caramel tartlets
- House-baked biscuits
See? I told you that your mouth would be watering by the end of this post. All these items come from what Piccalilli calls their “standard menu”. Hmm, doesn’t look very standard to me!
It’s very timely information too, with Melbourne Cup and Christmas parties just around the corner …
What’s your fallback menu for catering office-type events?
Linking up with Kylie Purtell for IBOT.
Yep! My mouth was definitely watering by the end of your post and it’s only breakfast time!!! Is that completely wrong?
Nope!
Oh yummy! I love a good event, especially with good catering. I do love a finger food style menu. They are always my favourite, tasty little morsels. Just about to organise the catering for our staff Christmas party, will be fun.
Well now you know who to call at least!
We are getting into the season where more events happen, especially outdoor events and catering is the best part.
Yes I’m off to a high tea myself this weekend 😉
I’m glad I read this post at lunch time. Now I’m really hungry!
I know, I’ve just re-read it and made myself hungry LOL!
gorgeous looking food – I’d be useless at event management but I bet having the name of a great caterer would help significantly!
That’s the secret I think Leanne, great catering.
I love any food that I don’t have to cook myself. Sold!
I’ve done bits of events work in many jobs. Sometimes I’ve been limited to specific contracted caterers; but ugh. Some of them are so bad! Bland, boring and not good value.
One team meeting people complained that the food was always the same. So I sent them the catering list and asked for preferences for the next meeting. Nothing. So I emailed people and said I’ll be choosing all food we never order for the next meeting and they were so excited! Come the next meeting and people complained the food wasn’t the usual stuff. I may have glared at a few people and said a few choice words and then no one dared complain again 🙂
Oh tell me about it Ness. And don’t get me started on fricken RSVP’s or the lack thereof. It used to do my head in with my last job, makes catering so difficult!
Yummmm…. I haven’t had to organise catering for a while but I’ve got something coming up for work in early November I need to manage. Of course it’s in a small rural town so options are limited. The place told me they could do ‘meals’ or trays. The ‘meals’ were essentially their pub lunches – chicken schnitzel and the like…. Sigh…
Look at it this way – as long as somebody else is doing the cooking, it’s still a win!
As a teacher , work events were always catered by arnotts multipack biscuits or Subway if it was a fancy ‘do. Thank heavens those days are behind me! This all looks great- I’m hungry!
LOL yes plenty of government meetings were fancy like that too 😉
Oh my! Yes mouthwatering extravaganza going on here … and what a piquant name – Piccalilli! Love it. Sounds like you’d be the one to come to if there was an event to organise – wish you were here in WA to help me organise a bloggie get together which I keep putting off! Now there’s an idea for a post – How to Organise a Perfect Bloggie Get Together)
I did host one about 4 years ago Jo!!!! Do it – it’s a lot of fun. I chose a local cafe with a great kids playground, it was very informal and everybody just paid for their own food and coffee.
I do a bit of event management and will keep them in mind.
The food looks amazing Robyna and I love the extensive menus x
Call me shallow but I often judge an event by it’s food and this spread sounds fabulous!
We can be shallow together then!
You can definitely tell an event by its catered food. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve faced dire triangle sandwiches with boring filling or overly crusty baguettes. These look like some great selections!!
Or a pack of boring biscuits … blah.
I have organised a few events in my time and you are right the food is really everything! Everything else could be awful but if the food is amazing then mostly everyone will judge the event a success!
We’re all like men really – the way to our heart is through our bellies!
If only I lived in Queensland! That food looks amazing.
My son is doing an elective this semester: Event Management. His group planned, cooked and presented a two-course lunch for teachers. Oh my word – so glad I work at his school. The kids did an amazing job! I wish he could do Food & Technology next year!
Miss Almost 20 did Food and Technology (or Home Ec as we used to call it) all the way through high school. Loved being on the receiving end of her cooking brilliance!
Nailed it Janet – it’s all about the food! Impress people with the food, you have their attention. I went to a conference a few months back and my friends enjoyed the food, I thought it was very average. But…. I had been spoilt at ProBlogger. My expectations are very high!! This company looks fab!! The colours look fantastic #teamIBOT
Ohhhh the food at ProBlogger was amazing …